Make it legal
Societies should take all efforts to get the order of deemed conveyance, says CA. Ramesh S. Prabhu
Nearly 80% of co-operative housing societies have not received the conveyance of land and building in their favour from the builder. The amendments were carried out in the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963, to appoint the competent authority to hear the grievances on conveyance by the societies or other legal bodies in 2005. The president gave the assent on February 25, 2008, and it became the law of the land.
In June 2008, the necessary notification was issued by the Government of Maharashtra designating the District Deputy Registrars of Co-operative Societies as the Competent Authorities under the MOFA. Even after the lapse of 18 months and number of cases being accepted by the competent authority, the same is not being heard, pending the approval of the necessary rules by the Government. These are expected to be published shortly.
It is the duty of the builder to form the society or any other legal body once he sells more than 60% of the flats in the building. He is also statutorily bound to give conveyance of land and building within four months from the formation of the legal body. Invariably they have failed to give conveyance on one or the other pretext.
The only remedy to flat purchasers is to approach the consumer or civil court against the grievances and that takes years to get justice. 80,000 housing societies were waiting for a quick and easy remedy and that has paved the way for deemed conveyance.
Only after executing the conveyance, the legal ownership of land and building will be with the society. Till such time, the society will have only possession rights without any legal rights for redevelopment or earn any commercial benefit.
There are five stages to complete the conveyance of land and building in favour of the society even under deemed conveyance.
There are five stages to complete the conveyance of land and building in favour of the society even under deemed conveyance.
Collect the relevant documents such as society registration certificate, Property card or 7/12 Extracts, Building Approved Plan, Copies of Agreement for sale of flat purchasers, registration receipts, stamp duty paid proof, Non Agricultural Order, ULC Order, Search Report, Layout Plan, City Survey Map, Architect Certificate about the utilization FSI and the proportionate land entitlement Occupation Certificates, Draft Conveyance Deed etc.
Make an application before Competent Authority, make a written submission, attend the hearing, argue the case and obtain the order.
Prepare a conveyance deed and submit the same before the collector of stamps for determining the payment of stamp duty along with the proof of payment of stamp duty by all individual flat purchasers including chain of agreements and registration receipts. Pay the deficit stamp duty, if any, and obtain the certified copy of the conveyance deed.
Submit before the sub-registrar for registration of the same under Indian Registration Act, 1908 by paying necessary registration fees and all relevant annexure. Obtain the original conveyance deed and also certified copy of index II from the sub-registrar.
Apply to the City Survey office or Talati Office to incorporate the name of the society in the Property Card or in 7/12 extract. The City Survey officer or the Talati officer shall carry out the necessary enquiry, carry out the survey and then make necessary changes in their record.
Make an application before Competent Authority, make a written submission, attend the hearing, argue the case and obtain the order.
Prepare a conveyance deed and submit the same before the collector of stamps for determining the payment of stamp duty along with the proof of payment of stamp duty by all individual flat purchasers including chain of agreements and registration receipts. Pay the deficit stamp duty, if any, and obtain the certified copy of the conveyance deed.
Submit before the sub-registrar for registration of the same under Indian Registration Act, 1908 by paying necessary registration fees and all relevant annexure. Obtain the original conveyance deed and also certified copy of index II from the sub-registrar.
Apply to the City Survey office or Talati Office to incorporate the name of the society in the Property Card or in 7/12 extract. The City Survey officer or the Talati officer shall carry out the necessary enquiry, carry out the survey and then make necessary changes in their record.
Societies should take all efforts to get the order of deemed conveyance from the Competent Authority as it is equivalent to the Civil Court Order and the society shall get the legal rights over the land and the building. Thereafter, the builder or land owner cannot demand any money from the society for conveyance nor will the builder be able to utilise the additional FSI or TDR and carry out additional construction on such land. The Competent Authority as per MOFA is bound to give judgment within six months from the date of filing applications.
The payment of stamp duty, registration etc can be done after obtaining the deemed conveyance order. The association has also represented before the government to register deemed conveyance deed and recovery of pending stamp duties separately from individual members and not to make societies responsible for the same.
A special cell has been started by the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association at A1/207, Laram Center, Opp: Railway Station, Andheri (W), Mumbai, to provide guidance on deemed conveyance. You can contact them on 26248589/ 65. A number of public seminars are being conducted at various places and booklets are being made available. Interested societies can also invite experts to visit their societies for guidance.
RAMESH S. PRABHU, CA, IS CHAIRMAN, MAHARASHTRA SOCIETIES WELFARE ASSOCIATION. READERS WHO HAVE ANY
QUERIES ON THE SUBJECT OF DEEMED CONVEYANCE MAY
QUERIES ON THE SUBJECT OF DEEMED CONVEYANCE MAY